Pearl necklace clasp

ABSTRACT

A pivoting clasp assembly for pearl necklace jewelry comprises a single strand of pearls, a main decorated section of the clasp, a rear face opposing the front face, and a pivoting arm mounted on a pivot hinge joint on the rear face of the main section. The clasp pivots from an open position to a closed position, and the pivoting arm comprises a pearl retaining eye and a retaining hook extending from the pearl retaining eye. A user depressing the resiliently depressible lever opens the pivoting arm. The pivoting arm may receive two strands of pearls that may be retained in closed position. Changing retaining areas and portions allow a user to make many customizable configurations and styles to suit fashion needs.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

[0001] Pearl is a natural gemstone formed from deposits when a foreignsubstance such as a grain of sand irritates an oyster. Oriental pearlshave a naturally occurring grain of sand. Pearl produced by inserting amother-of-pearl bead is cultured pearl. A pearl formed on a shell is ablister pearl. Irregularly shaped pearls are baroque. Costume jewelryoften uses plastic pearls.

[0002] A necklace is a piece of jewelry worn around the neck. Necklacesof pearls of different lengths have different names: A choker is 14″ to16″ long; a princess necklace is 18″ long; a matinee necklace is 22″ to23″ long; opera is 30″ to 35″ long; a rope is over 40″ long. A bibnecklace, also known as a collarette, is a short necklace with flowingornaments in the front.

[0003] Beads are small spherical objects, each having a hole through itto receive string. Beads are made of glass, stones, wood, plastics,seeds, and ceramics. Pearls are also beads when strung. Pearls arecommonly threaded through their diameter.

[0004] Attachment means are very intricate and delicate. A barrel claspis a jewelry fastener that resembles a barrel. The two pieces of thisclasp screw together. It is used to attach two other rings or links of anecklace or bracelet. A fold over clasp is a jewelry fastener that iscomposed of a device that opens and closes with a hinge, and latchesshut. It is used to attach the two ends of a necklace or bracelet. Ahook and eye clasp is a simple and ancient jewelry fastener that iscomposed of a hook and a circular piece that the hook can latch onto. Itis used to attach the two ends of a necklace or bracelet. A wide varietyof mechanisms for connecting jewelry have been invented and utilizeclasps, latches, springs, retainers, slots and cams. Although manypieces of jewelry devices allow more secure connection, very fewadequately allow modifiable configurations to the underlying designtheme.

[0005] Although many of these devices attach jewelry efficiently, whatis needed is a means to attach in a wide variety of combinations astring of pearls. Until now, formal jewelry designers have made a largenumber of fixed configuration designs that are both wonderful andwonderfully expensive.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The first object of the invention is to provide a user amodifiable jewelry strand having multiple configurations, allowing auser to buy a single strand of pearls and not have to buy additionalstrands for fashion variation purposes.

[0007] The second object of the invention is to allow a user to modify astrand of jewelry without removing the jewelry.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Figure one is a rear view of the necklace and clasp in thestandard configuration showing the rear of the main section.

[0009] Figure two is a close-up view of the arm.

[0010] Figure three is another close of view of the arm.

[0011] Figure four shows the operation of the arm in cooperation withthe clasp section.

[0012] Figure five shows the eyelet and arm hook in the process ofretaining a strand of pearls.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0013] The present invention is a pearl necklace attached to a clasp.The string of pearls has two ends. Each end is connected to a clasp. Astring of pearls having one hundred twenty pearls extends from a firstouter terminal 132 to a second inner terminal 134. The first and secondterminals are connected to two connection points on the clasp. The firstterminal 132 connects to an outer higher location 132 and the secondterminal connects to an inner lower location 134.

[0014] A clasp assembly for pearl necklace jewelry and the like includesa pivoting clasp having a main section 140 and an arm 150 FIG. 4. Themain section 140 of the clasp may be decorated by a wide variety ofdecorative themes such as gold leaves, or inset stones. The arm 150pivots from an open position to a closed position FIG. 5. The arm movesin a substantially horizontal plane.

[0015] In the present embodiment FIG. 1 the lever is on the right sideand the strands to be retained are the left side. The present embodimentis a right-handed version. By taking a mirror image of the presentembodiment, one can create a left-handed version where the lever is onthe left side.

[0016] A first substrand of pearls and second substrand of pearls arecreated when the clasp retains and divides a portion of the main strandsuch that substrands are created. In an open position, the arm 150 mayreceives up to two substrands of pearls. In closed position, the arm 150retains up to two substrands of pearls. The single strand can be dividedinto substrands when connected by the arm behind the clasp. The singlestrand is divided into two lower substrands and one upper sub strandwhen both two lower substrands are attached to the pearl necklace.

[0017] The arm is biased closed via a spring and includes a pearlretaining eye, a pearl strand retaining hook and a lever. A helicalspring mounted in a pivot hinge joint 158 may be used for the spring. Apivot hinge joint 158 is mounted on the main section 140 between thepearl retaining eye 152, the pearl strand retaining hook 154 and thelever 156. The resiliently depressible lever 156 opens the arm member150 attached on the rear face 142 of the main section 140.

[0018] The hook 154 preferably contacts the rear face of the mainsection 142 so that it retains a strand of pearls when closed. A slackclearance allows the strand of pearls some movement relative to thehook, even though the hook retains the pearls against the rear face ofthe main section 142. Optionally, the eyelet 152 forms an aperture atthe top and bottom ends allowing passage of the upper and lower strandof a single threaded pearl enclosed in the eye 152. See FIG. 2. Theeyelet or eye may additionally form prongs for ease in capturing astrand on a strand of pearls. The prongs may be formed in an arch toallow the passage of the strand. See figure three.

[0019] The main section has a small aperture allowing display of theretained pearl through the front ornamented face of the main section.Thus, the retained pearl becomes a part of the design of the frontornamented face.

[0020] Configurations of the Clasp Apparatus

[0021] A user may make many configurations. In the standardconfiguration of FIG. 1, a user may take the clasp 130 and open theclasp by depressing the lever 156, thereby raising and opening the arm150. In the standard configuration, a second inner substrand of pearls133 begins from a connection point on the rear face 142 and can beenclosed in the eyelet 152. The first outer substrand of pearls 135 maybe biased to the clasp by the hook 154 that attaches to a point betweenindividual pearls. The clasp 130 has a circular retaining eye 152capable of retaining a pearl on the second inner substrand of pearls133. The retaining eyelet 152 is sized to receive a single pearl and inan opening allowing the viewing of a pearl through the eyelet 152 fromthe front and rear face of the clasp. The circular retaining eye 152extends to a hook 154 at an opposite end of the lever arm 150. The hook154 can hold string 135 at a user-defined position between pearls on thefirst strand of pearls 135. The hook 150 locks the string and strandwhen the hook 150 is in biased closed position matedly contacting apoint on the section of the clasp. The hook allows some movement andplay of the strand within the hook. This prevents stress and preventsthe strand 135 from escaping the hook 154 when the hook is in biasedclosed position.

[0022] Varying the connection location of the first and second strandcreates a number of topological combinations and fashions. For example,the first and second sub strands may be reversed from the standardconfiguration so that the first outer connection point 132 delivers astrand of pearls from that point to the retaining eyelet 152. The secondconnection point 134 then delivers a strand of pearls to the retaininghook 154.

[0023] The clasp is not symmetrical and the first and second terminalsare preferably placed on the lower right side of the clasp. The lowerright side of the clasp can be seen in figure one. The right side of theclasp is the right side when a user operates the device with the outwardornamented face facing away from the user as seen in figure one. Thefirst terminal 132 begins the strand of pearls at the lower rightportion of the clasp. Pearls hang from the first terminal 132. Thesecond terminal 134 is placed to the left of the first terminal 132 andends the strand of pearls. Pearls hang from the second terminal 134.

[0024] In reversed standard configuration, the lower left side of theclasp includes sufficient space to allow a first strand of pearls topass behind the top of the clasp and protrude hanging down the lowerleft side of the clasp. The first strand of pearls 135 hangs to the leftof the first terminal 132 and second terminal 134. The second strand ofpearls hangs to the left of the first strand of pearls, and hangs fromthe hook.

[0025] When both the hook and eyelet are left empty, the first andsecond terminals connect a string of pearls to the clasp. The best modefor this maximum length is opera. Both the hook and eyelet 152 may beleft empty for additional topological combinations. Either the hook oreyelet 152 may be left empty for additional topological combinations.

[0026] A user may implement other combinations when a strand is notenclosed and not retained in either the eye or hook. A user notattaching a strand in either retaining hook or eye leaves an open loopwhere a first connection point 132 on the clasp holds a strand thattravels to a second connection point 134. The open loop fashion may beused when a long necklace is desired. The open loop may be looped arounda neck more than once. According to style, the open loop may be used.

[0027] A single loop configuration may also be created according to theprevailing fashion or style of the event. The first connection point 132and first strand 135 may be attached at the hook or eyelet leaving thesecond strand 133 unattached. This creates a small single loop. Theclasp may be worn hanging at the lowest point of the strand of pearls,or may be worn behind the back. The single loop may be positioned in thefront, or hang behind the back. A second connection point 134 and secondstrand 133 may be attached to the hook or eyelet leaving the firststrand 135 unattached. Again, this creates a small single loop.

[0028] Unfortunately, some social events last longer than boredompermits. In these cases, a user can create various looks by arrangingthe hook and eyelet at varying lengths. Usually, the outside substrandis longer than the inside substrand but both strands may be positionedfor the appeal of the user. The finest adjustment capable is one pearlor bead. A user may readjust the device while the user is wearing thedevice. A user may change the configuration while the user is wearingthe device.

[0029] The preferred embodiment encompasses a single unitary front faceof the main section. Optionally however, the front face of the mainsection, or front face of the main section may be interchangeable. Thefaceplate may contain magnetic material cooperatively attracted tomagnetic material in the main section. An ornamented faceplate havingmagnetic adherence can be interchanged with other ornamented faces, as auser's fashion sense so requires. The ornamentation of the faceplateallows a user to retain the necklace on the neck while interchangingornamented faceplates.

[0030] The foregoing describes the preferred embodiments of theinvention. Modifications may be made without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

[0031] Call Out List of Elements

[0032]120 Necklace Pearl Strand

[0033]130 Clasp

[0034]132 First Terminal

[0035]133 Second Substrand

[0036]134 Second Terminal

[0037]135 First Substrand

[0038]140 Main Section

[0039]142 Rear Face Of The Main Section

[0040]144 Front Face Of The Main Section

[0041]150 Arm

[0042]152 Retaining Eyelet

[0043]154 Retaining Hook

[0044]156 Lever

[0045]158 Pivot Hinge Joint

1. A pivoting clasp assembly for pearl necklace jewelry comprising: a. asingle strand of pearls extends from a first terminal end to a secondterminal end, b. a main section of the clasp having a front face thatmay be decorated by decorative articles, gems and ornamental jewelryfeatures, wherein a rear face opposes the front face, wherein the firstterminal end is mounted to a rear connection point on the rear face ofthe clasp, wherein the second terminal end is mounted to a rearconnection point on the rear face of the clasp, c. a pivoting armmounted on a pivot hinge joint mounted on the main section on a rearface of the clasp pivots from an open position to a closed positionmoving in a substantially horizontal plane, wherein the pivoting armcomprises a pearl retaining eye and a retaining hook extending from thepearl retaining eye, wherein the pivoting arm is biased closed via aspring and includes a resiliently depressible lever opposite the pearlretaining eye and retaining hook, wherein a user depressing theresiliently depressible lever opens the pivoting arm attached on therear face of the main section, wherein in open position, the pivotingarm may receive two strands of pearls that may be retained in closedposition, wherein in a standard configuration, a second inner substrandof pearls is retained by the eyelet, and a first outer substrand ofpearls is biased to the clasp by the hook that attaches to a pointbetween individual pearls, wherein in a reversed standard configuration,the first outer substrand of pearls is retained by the eyelet, and thesecond inner substrand of pearls is biased to the clasp by the hook thatattaches to a point between individual pearls, wherein a single loop oropen configuration can also be implemented by removing one or bothstrands from pivoting arm retention.
 2. The pivoting clasp assembly forpearl necklace jewelry of claim 1, wherein the pearls are made ofplastic.
 3. The pivoting clasp assembly for pearl necklace jewelry ofclaim 1, wherein the pearls are organically grown.
 4. The pivoting claspassembly for pearl necklace jewelry of claim 1, wherein the pearls arethreaded through their diameter.
 5. The pivoting clasp assembly forpearl necklace jewelry of claim 1, wherein the retaining eyelet is sizedto receive a single pearl.
 6. The pivoting clasp assembly for pearlnecklace jewelry of claim 1, wherein the front face of the main sectionmay be interchangeable, wherein an ornamented interchangeable faceplatecontaining magnetic material cooperatively attracts to magnetic materialin the main section, whereby ornamented faceplates having magneticadherence can be interchanged with other ornamented faces, as a user'sfashion sense so requires.
 7. A pivoting clasp assembly for pearlnecklace jewelry comprising: a. a single strand of pearls extending froma first terminal end to a second terminal end, b. a rigid main claspsection having a front decorated face opposing a rear face, wherein thefirst terminal end is mounted to a rear connection point on a lowerright area on the rear face of the clasp, wherein the second terminalend is mounted to the left of the first terminal end on a lower rightarea on the rear face of the clasp, c. a pivoting arm mounted on a pivothinge joint, wherein the pivot hinge joint is mounted on the mainsection on the rear face of the clasp and pivots from an open positionspring biased to a closed position and travels along a substantiallyhorizontal plane, wherein the pivoting arm comprises a pearl retainingeye for holding a single pearl and a retaining hook extending from thepearl retaining eye, wherein the pearl retaining eye for holding asingle pearl and the retaining hook is biased closed via a spring,wherein a resiliently depressible lever opposite the pearl retaining eyeand retaining hook pivotally cooperates such that a user depressing theresiliently depressible lever opens the pivoting arm attached on therear face of the main section, wherein in open position, the pivotingarm may receive two strands of pearls.
 8. The pivoting clasp assemblyfor pearl necklace jewelry of claim 7, wherein the hook contacts therear face of the main section retaining a strand of pearls when closed,and offering a slack clearance for a strand of pearls to move relativeto the hook while the hook retains the pearls against the rear face ofthe main section, wherein the eyelet forms an aperture at the top andbottom ends allowing passage of the upper and lower strand of a singlethreaded pearl enclosed in the eye, wherein the eyelet or eyeadditionally forms prongs for ease in capturing a strand on a strand ofpearls, wherein said prongs may be formed in an arch to allow thepassage of the strand.
 9. The pivoting clasp assembly for pearl necklacejewelry of claim 7, wherein in a standard configuration, a second innersubstrand of pearls is retained by the eyelet, and a first outersubstrand of pearls is biased to the clasp by the hook that attaches toa point between individual pearls, wherein in a reversed standardconfiguration, the first outer substrand of pearls is retained by theeyelet, and the second inner substrand of pearls is biased to the claspby the hook that attaches to a point between individual pearls, whereina single loop or open configuration can also be implemented by removingone or both strands from pivoting arm retention.
 10. The pivoting claspassembly for pearl necklace jewelry of claim 7, wherein the pearls aremade of plastic.
 11. The pivoting clasp assembly for pearl necklacejewelry of claim 7, wherein the pearls are organically grown.
 12. Thepivoting clasp assembly for pearl necklace jewelry of claim 7, whereinthe pearls are threaded through their diameter.
 13. The pivoting claspassembly for pearl necklace jewelry of claim 7, wherein the retainingeyelet is sized to receive a single pearl.
 14. The pivoting claspassembly for pearl necklace jewelry of claim 7, wherein the front faceof the main section may be interchangeable, wherein an ornamentedinterchangeable faceplate containing magnetic material cooperativelyattracts to magnetic material in the main section, whereby ornamentedfaceplates having magnetic adherence can be interchanged with otherornamented faces, as a user's fashion sense so requires.
 15. Thepivoting clasp assembly for pearl necklace jewelry of claim 7, whereinthe main section has a small aperture allowing display of the retainedpearl through the front ornamented face of the main section.